Nanoassay development

荧光光谱法本质上是一种非常敏感的技术;它已经形成了 基于大多数非放射性真实的时间测定，如PCR。 我们的实验室之前与 前研究员（现在在生物技术行业）开发PCR的替代品，如"CataCleave" SNP探针。 我们继续研究DNA组分与载体（如多层金属纳米颗粒）的物理学和适当耦合 更快的PCR分析和FCS的使用（见MPM报告），以量化非常紧密的 亚微升液滴中的蛋白质-蛋白质和蛋白质-DNA结合（分析物 以亚飞摩尔量存在）。 我们目前正在设计用于DNA/RNA探测的STAQ探针（参见纳米镜项目），类似于catacleave，计划仅超分辨紧密结合位点。 最近，我们已经使用TCSPC来开始解开设计的适体异质性问题（参见MPM项目和TR项目）。适体可以联合收割机将它们的开启荧光与分析物检测相结合，因此我们已经开始开发用于RNA的各种FRET传感概念。 我们还继续研究肽和DNA "激子"探针的特征，除非展开或切割，否则这些探针会自猝灭，与当地工业合作，最近在适体合作中;激子耦合在新生的量子光学中具有价值（特别是通信）。领域 遗憾的是，由于现场人员有限，合作努力受到阻碍。

Fluorescence Spectroscopy is inherently a very sensitive technique; it already forms the basis of most non-radioactive real time assays like PCR. Our lab previously collaborated with former fellows (now in biotech industry) to develop alternatives to PCR like "CataCleave" probes for SNPs. We continue to study the photophysics and proper coupling of DNA components to carriers such as multilayer metal nanoparticles for much faster PCR analysis and the use of FCS (see MPM report) to quantify very tight protein-protein and protein-DNA binding in sub-microliter drops (analytes are present in sub-femtomole amounts). We are presently designing STAQ probes (see nanoscopy project) for DNA/RNA probing, analagous to catacleave, in plans to only superresolve tight binding sites. Recently we have used TCSPC to begin untangling designed aptamer heterogeneity questions (see MPM project and TR project). Aptamers can combine their turn-on fluorescence with analyte detection, so we have begun developing various FRET sensing concepts for RNA. We also continued to study the signatures for peptide and DNA "Excitonic" probes that self-quench unless unfolded or cleaved, in collaboration with local industry and most recently in aptamer collaborations ; excitonic coupling has value in the nascent quantum optics (communication esp.) field. Collaborative efforts have been unfortunately inhibited by limited on-site presence.